Tunnel.



Patented Nov. Il, |902. C. SOUYSMITH.

T U N N E L.

(Applicatiqn led Mar. 3, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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No. 7|3,52|. Patented Nov. H, |902.

C. SOOYSMITH.

TUNNEL.

(Application flled Mar. 3, 1902.) l v (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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TUNNEL.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 1902.) (No Model.) 3 Shees Sheet 3.

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UNiTnn STATES CHARLES SOOYSMITH,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEY YORK, N. Y.

TUNNEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,521, dated November 11, 1902.

Application filed March 3, 1902.

,To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Soovsinrn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tunnels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of tunnels, shafts, or other excavations, and especially to tunnels or excavations in soft or yielding or water-bearing materials, and has more particular reference to those instances where the surrounding soil may be advantageously or necessarily solidified or where a shield or similar device may preferably be employed.

rIhe objects of my invention are to provide a structure which shall be at once economical, easy, and rapid in construction and be in itself safe, stable, and durable. These objects I attain by the construction and bythe use of devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and claimed hereinafter.

In the drawings like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the respective views.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of an excavation or horizontal tunnelfor example, under a river-showing the foundations and the structure itself in different stages of its completion. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the tunnel and accessories. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of constructing a tunnel by advancing a shield. Fig. 4C is a plan view of a modification of my invention, showing a plurality of pilot-tunnels and a crossover connecting the same. Figs. 5, G, and 7 represent different forms and arrangements of the pilot-tunnels.

IIeretofore methods of excavation in loose, soft, or water-bearingmaterials,while in some cases utilizing the well-known method of freezing the soil in advance of the work, have not provided for a stable foundation or against the strains set up in the completed structure by the settling and undermining of the work. Moreover, heretofore, and especially as indicated in the Letters Patent No. 417,288, heretofore granted to me on December 17, 1889,

Serial No. 96,359. (No model.)

the freezing effect was produced in a tube of comparatively small area and extent which was with some difculty forced into the material to be excavated and which on account of the limited area and dimensions failed to attain to an entirely satisfactory extent the result desired, thus rendering the work more tedious, slow, and relatively difficult than when accomplished by my new method.

By this invention I obtain more freedom, ease, and elfectiveness in construction and am enabled to secure a more solid, stable, and durable foundation for the finished structure. Of course it is much easier, cheaper, and quicker to construct a small tunnel than a large one, so by advancing my pilot tunnel or tunnels and then freezing and proceeding with the larger I attain some of the objects above specified.

'Where it is not necessary to use the freezing process I may dispense with the same and perform the excavation for the tunnel by the well-known device of a shield which may be constructed in accordance with the design set forth in my application dated February 4, 1002, and serially numbered 92,575, or by other means.

Referring to the gures, l l are piles or other supports arranged on the line of the structure and preferably placed in position prior to its actual construction.

2 is the main structure of the completed tunnel.

3 is the heading or face of the excavated material.

4 is a pilot-tunnel penetrating the mass of soft material.

5 represents the frozen or solidied soil in contact with the pilot-tunnel; 6, the heading of the pilot-tunnel; 7, the frozen soil excavated to the final line, but without the tunnel structure in place; 8, a movable partition adapted to confine the cold to the working chamber.

In Fig. 3, 9 is a shield.

In Fig. 4., 10 represents crossovers connecting the pilot-tunnels.

Fig. 2 shows some of the piles cut od, so as to conform to the exterior surface of the tunnel, while about the heads of the others the tunnel is itself built, thus illustrating how IOO ' excavation Without them.

a portion of some of the piles may be incorporated into the body of the tunnel itself. I have also indicated a tie-bar, which I may use to still further strengthen and secure the tunnel to the piles.

I have found that former methods consisting in the use of a small pilot-tube only large enough to contain the refrigeratin g fluid were not capable of accomplishing the Work as rapidly as desired. I therefore replace them by constructing one or more pilot-tunnels, preferably of steel, wood, or other material, built in sections, or concrete, brick, or other material and of a diameter sufficient to permit one or more men to Work therein. This tunnel or tunnels may be started in any of the Well-known ways into the approximate center or other desired point of the heading or face or in proximity thereto or above or below or at the side of the proposed tunnel; but before starting this pilot-tunnel I prefer to drive or otherwise' place a sufficient foundation of piles or other suitable supports in the proposed line of construction, though I may in some cases omit articial foundations entirely and construct my tunnel or make my Where these are employed, they may be so placed that their tops or heads are approximately on a line with the bottom of the completed tunnel or extend in part orentirely over its cross-sectional area. If in the latter case, as the pilot tunnel or tunnels are advanced these piles or supports may be encountered, and if so so much of them will be successively removed as to permit the continual progression of the Work. Upon the advance of the main structure ,those portions remaining Within the cross-sectional area are either entirely removed, so as to allow the masonry or substance of the uished tunnel to rest upon their heads, or those of them that are suitablylocated may be inclosed within its Walls or otherwise serve to support and secure it, some methods of which are indicated in Fig. 2.

In constructing the tunnel I may employ the methods which are made the subject of an application filed by me on the 23d day of December,l90l,and serially numbered 86,946, and an application filed January 29, 1902, and serially numbered 91,672, and in these methods I introduce freezing agents or vehicles of cold into the pilot tunnel or tunnels, so as to freeze the surrounding material, thus permitting the excavation to be carried on safely,quickly, and economically,or Where the conditions permit I may construct it according to the methods shown and claimedin my application dated February 4, 1892, and serially numbered 92,575.

The refrigerating means in the pilot tunnel or tunnels are adapted to so solidify the surrounding soil that it may be removed not only in advance of the pilot-tunnel, as at 6, but also at the face 3 of the main excavation and at the portion 9 of the excavation before the lining is in place. It Will be evident that as the material at 6 is excavated and removed new sections of the pilot-tunnel may be put i in place, thus continually keeping the latter Well up the end of the excavation, and it is equally evident that as the excavation of the heading 3 of the main tunnel is advanced the sections of the pilot-tunnel, which will then be left exposed at 3, may be detached and used over again at 6.

It Will be understood that the pilot tunnel or tunnels may be built complete before the refrigeration is commenced or their excavation and construction may be going on at the same time that the refrigeration in the iinished portion is taking place.

After a certain time the material about the pilot-tunnel Will have become frozen and to such a distance that the excavation may be made of sufficient size for railway or other traffic, the frozen material remaining outside of this excavation serving as a barrier to iniiow of material or collapse of the surrounding earth.

The movable partition 8 if used serves to confine to any desired extent the cold air to the heading or uncompleted portions of the tunnel. This partition can of course be provided With the usual and necessary doors and openings for various purposes.

I do not confine myself to the use of any particular material, shape, size, number, or proportions either of the tunnel or other cooperating or accessory parts, nor their exact indicated arrangement or position, nor do I conne myself to any particular class of Work, as submarine tunneling, or to any particular direction, as the horizontal, as it is evident that variations from the exact features here shown may not depart from the essential features of my invention; nor do I confine myself to the use of any particular method or Way of driving the piles or other- Wise placing the supports and anchorages, nor of constructing or advancing the pilot-tunnel or the tunnel itself or the particular Way or means for freezing; nor do I confine myself to the use of any tangible means or device for freezing situated in the pilot-tunnel or else- Where, as I may perform the operation of freezing by means of cold air or other gases or any other vehicle of cold or freezing agent by which the result is accomplished, and the apparatus or means for producing such cold need not be situated in the pilot-tunnel or main tunnel itself.

Where I have used in the specification or claims the Words means for freezing I Wish it to be understood that I include in this a vehicle of cold, as cold air, gas, brine, or any other substance or medium by which the freezing eect is produced. Nor do I confine myself to the use of piles in my invention, as I may use pillars or other means of support or lomit them all.

I desire it to be understood that when I men- IOO IIO

tion a tunnel in this specification I mean l ing a vehicle of cold, substantially as deany excavation or construction in a horizontal, vertical, or other direction of any kind whatsoever to which the invention described is applicable.

I make no claims herein for the methods of excavation and construction, as they are the subject-matter of my application before mentioned; but

What I do claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

I. A plurality of piles, a main tunnel superimposed upon the saine and a pilot-tunnel, substantially as described.

2. A main tunnel having a pilot-tunnel, and both supported on a pile foundation, substantially as described.

3. A tunnel supported upon a plurality of piles, and having a pilot-tunnel containing a freezing agent, substantially as described.

4. A tunnel supported upon and secured to a plurality of piles, and having a pilot-tunnel containing a freezing agent, substantially as described.

5. A tunnel supported upon and secured to a plurality of piles,and havinga pilot-tunnel, substantially as described.

6. A tunnel having a pilot-tunnel containscribed.

7. A tunnel superimposed upon a foundation, and having a pilot-tunnel containing a vehicle of cold, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a tunnel with a plurality of pilot-tunnels, a portion of which contain a freezing agent, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a tunnel with a plurality of pilot-tunnels, and Crossovers connecting said pilot-tunnels,substantially as described.

10. The combination of a plurality of tunnels with a plurality of pilot-tunnels, and Crossovers connecting said pilot-tunnels, substantially as described.

l1. A main tunnel having a pilot-tunnel, the latter surrounded by a frozen shell, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of February, A. D. 1902.

CHARLES SOOYSMITH.

Witnesses:

Z. ROSENFIELD, S. FEINBERG. 

